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 85Reference
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Mobility
>Off: LED goes out.
If Top View is displayed, switch o n the rea r vie w 
camera using iDrive, refer to page87.
Optical warning
The approach to an object can be shown on the 
Control Display.
When the distance to an object is small, the 
PDC display correspondingly shows a red bar in 
front of the vehicle.
The display appears as soon as Top View is 
activated.
If the last image selected was the rear view 
camera, this is displayed again. To switch to 
Top View:
1.Select the "Switch off rear view camera" 
on the Control Display.
2.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Image on the Control Display
Switching on the rear view camera 
using iDrive
With Top View activated:
1.Select the "Switch on rear view camera" 
symbol .
2.Press the controller.
The image of the rear view camera is displayed. 
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Brightness
With Top View switched on:
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed and then press the controller.
Contrast
With Top View switched on:
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed and then press the controller.
Displaying turning lines and pathway 
lines
>The static, red turning line shows the lateral 
space required when the wheel is fully 
turned.
>The variable, green pathway lines assist you 
in estimating the amount of lateral space 
actually required.
The pathway lines depend on the current 
steering angle and are continuously 
adapted to movements of the steering 
wheel.
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Press the controller.
Turning lines and pathway lines are displayed.
Cameras
The lenses of the Top View cameras are on the 
undersides of the exterior mirror housings.
The presence of dirt can impair image quality. 
Clean the lens with a moist, nonabrasive cloth.
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Controls
 87Reference
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>Show the path of the smallest turning circle 
on a flat road surface.
>When the steering wheel is turned, only one 
turning line is displayed.
To display parking aid lines using iDrive, refer to 
page87.
Parking using pathway and turning 
lines
1.Position the vehicle so that the turning lines 
lead into the margins of the parking space.
2.Turn the steering wheel so that the pathway 
lines coincide with the corresponding turn-
ing line.
Obstacle marking
>Three-dimensionally shaped markings can 
be displayed in the image of the rear view 
camera.Their color gradation corresponds to the mark-
ings in PDC. This helps estimate the distance to 
the object pictured.
To display obstacle marking using iDrive, refer 
to page87.
Activating assistance functions
Several assistance functions can be active at 
the same time.
Displaying parking aid lines
1.Select the "Parking aid lines" symbol.
2.Press the controller.
Pathway and turning lines are displayed.
Displaying obstacle marking
1.Select the "Display obstacle marking" 
symbol.
2.Press the controller.
Three-dimensionally-shaped markings are dis-
played.
Image on the Control Display
Switching on the rear view camera 
using iDrive
With PDC activated:
1.Select the "Switch on rear view camera" 
symbol.
2.Press the controller.
The image of the rear view camera is displayed. 
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Brightness
With the rear view camera switched on:
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed and then press the controller.
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Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
88
Contrast
With the rear view camera switched on:
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed and then press the controller.
Camera
The lens of the rear view camera is under the 
grasping lip of the liftgate.
The presence of dirt can impair image quality. 
Clean the lens with a moist, nonabrasive cloth.
Driving stability control 
systems
Your BMW is equipped with an extended array 
of systems designed to enhance and maintain 
vehicle stability under extreme conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during 
braking. Safe steering response is maintained 
even during full braking. Active safety is thus 
increased.
ABS is operational every time you start the 
engine. Braking safely, refer to page132.
CBC Cornering Brake Control
When braking during curves or when braking 
during a lane change, driving stability and steer-
ing response are improved further.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the 
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Brake assistant
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system 
automatically produces the maximum braking 
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal 
for the duration of the full braking.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents traction loss in the driving wheels 
when starting off and accelerating. The system 
also identifies unstable driving conditions, such 
as a loss of traction at the rear of the vehicle or 
sliding of the vehicle in its front wheels. In these 
cases, DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe 
course within physical limits by reducing engine 
output and through braking actions in the indi-
vidual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, 
even with DSC. An appropriate driving 
style remains the responsibility of the driver. 
Therefore, do not restrict the additional safety 
margin with a risky driving style, as otherwise 
there is a risk of an accident.<
Deactivating DSC
Press and hold the button until the indicator 
lamp for DSC lights up and DSC OFF appears in 
the instrument panel, but do not press the but-
ton for longer than approx. 10 seconds. DTC 
Dynamic Traction Control and DSC are deacti-
vated together. Stabilizing interventions are 
now not carried out.
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Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
92
Selecting chassis and suspension 
tuning
Press the button. 
The system switches between the two chassis 
and suspension tuning settings.
>Sport:
The LED in the button lights up and SPORT 
is displayed in the instrument panel.
>Normal:
The LED in the button goes out.
The selection of the chassis and suspension 
tuning setting is stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Starting assistant
The starting assistant enables you to start off 
conveniently on slopes. The parking brake is 
not required for this purpose.
1.Hold the vehicle with the footbrake.
2.Release the footbrake and immediately 
drive off quickly.
The starting assistant holds the vehicle 
for approx. 2 seconds after releasing the 
footbrake. Depending on the load, the vehicle 
may also roll back slightly during this time. 
After releasing the footbrake, immediately start 
quickly, otherwise the starting assistant no 
longer holds the vehicle after approx. 2 seconds 
and it begins to roll back.<
Self-leveling suspension*
The concept
The self-leveling suspension on the rear axle 
assures a continuous ground clearance.
To do so, the height of the vehicle is measured 
by sensors at both rear wheels.
If the actual height deviates from the defined 
height, e.g. due to loading of the vehicle, then 
this difference is compensated for very quickly. 
In addition, spring motions resulting from cor-
nering or irregularities in the road surface are 
reduced to a minimum.
The system functions automatically.
Malfunctions
Malfunctions are displayed via Check Control, 
refer to page77.
FTM Flat Tire Monitor*
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor detects a pressure loss in 
one tire by comparing the speeds of the individ-
ual wheels during driving.
In the event of a pressure loss, there is a change 
in the rolling circumference and therefore the 
rotation speed of the corresponding wheel. The 
system detects this change and reports it as a 
flat tire.
Function requirements
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat 
tire, the system must be initialized for the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
The initialization must be repeated after 
each time the tire inflation pressure is cor-
rected and after every tire or wheel change.<
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indicate 
sudden severe tire damage caused by 
outside factors and does not detect a natural, 
even pressure drop in all four tires.<
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Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
96 3."Tire Pressure Monitor - TPM"
The status is displayed.
Malfunction
The yellow warning lamp flashes and 
then lights up continuously. The tires 
are shown in gray on the Control Dis-
play and a message is displayed. No flat tire can 
be detected.
A message like this is displayed in the following 
situations:
>In case of a malfunction:
Have the system checked
>If a wheel without TPM electronics is 
mounted, e.g. a compact wheel
*
>If TPM is temporarily interfered with by 
other systems or devices which use the 
same radio frequency
Explanation according to the NHTSA/
FMVSS 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring 
Systems
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), 
should be checked monthly when cold and 
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended 
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle plac-
ard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehi-
cle has tires of a different size than the size indi-
cated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation 
pressure label, you should determine the 
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has 
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring 
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pres-
sure telltale when one or more of your tires is 
significantly underinflated. Accordingly, when 
the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as 
possible, and inflate them to the proper pres-
sure. Driving on a significantly underinflated tire 
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire 
failure. Underinflation also reduces fuel effi-
ciency and tire tread life, and may affect the 
vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute 
for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's 
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, 
even if underinflation has not reached the level 
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire 
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a 
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when 
the system is not operating properly. The 
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with 
the low tire pressure telltale. When the system 
detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for 
approximately one minute and then remain con-
tinuously illuminated. This sequence will con-
tinue upon subsequent vehicle startups as long 
as the malfunction exists. When the malfunc-
tion indicator is illuminated, the system may not 
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as 
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a 
variety of reasons, including the installation of 
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the 
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning 
properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction 
telltale after replacing one or more tires or 
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the 
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow 
the TPMS to continue to function properly.
Active steering*
The concept
The active steering actively varies the steering 
angle of the front wheels in relation to the steer-
ing wheel movements. In addition, it also varies 
the steering force required for steering depend-
ing on the vehicle's speed.
When you are driving in the low road speed 
range, e.g. in a town or when parking, the steer-
ing angle increases, i.e. the steering becomes 
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Controls
 97Reference
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very direct. In the higher speed range, on the 
other hand, the steering angle is reduced more 
and more. This improves the handling capability 
of your BMW over the entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar-
geted corrections to the steering angle pro-
vided by the driver and thus stabilize the vehicle 
before the driver intervenes.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up yellow 
and a message is shown on the Con-
trol Display. The active steering is 
defective or has been temporarily 
deactivated. At low speeds, greater steering 
wheel movements are required, whereas at 
higher speeds, the vehicle reacts more sensi-
tively to steering wheel movements. The stabil-
ity-promoting intervention can also be deacti-
vated. Proceed cautiously and drive 
defensively.
Deactivation
Active steering deactivates in order to carry out 
an initialization. This deactivation is displayed 
by means of a message. The initialization can 
take several minutes.
If the message does not disappear during the 
current trip, have the system checked.
Defect
In the event of a defect, a corresponding text 
message is displayed. Have the system 
checked.
Brake force display*
BMW X5
On the left: normal braking.
On the right: heavy braking.
BMW X6
On the left: normal braking.
On the right: heavy braking.
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Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
98
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head-level airbags in front and rear
3Side airbags in backrests
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
observe the adjustment instructions on 
page43.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in 
every impact situation, e.g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Keep the instrument cluster and window in the 
region of the passenger seat free of foreign 
materials, i.e. do not cover them with adhesive 
film or covers and do not attach mounts, e.g. for 
a navigation device or mobile phone to them.
Do not install cosmetic covers, seat cushions, 
or other items on the front seats that are not 
especially approved for seats with integrated 
side airbags. Do not hang articles of clothing 
such as jackets over the backrests.Do not attempt to remove the airbag restraint 
system from the vehicle. Do not modify or 
tamper with either the wiring or the individual 
components in the airbag system. This includes 
the upholstery in the center of the steering 
wheel, on the instrument cluster, the doors, and 
the roof pillars as well as the sides of the head-
liner. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the 
steering wheel. Do not touch the individual 
components immediately after the system has 
been triggered, because there is a danger of 
burns. 
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel and has 
the required explosives licenses. Otherwise 
unprofessional attempts to service the system 
could lead to failure in an emergency or undes-
ired airbag triggering, either of which could 
result in personal injury.<
Warnings and information on the airbags is also 
provided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front 
passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by eval-
uating the impression on the occupied seat sur-
face of the front passenger seat. The front and 
side airbags on the front passenger side are 
activated or deactivated accordingly by the sys-
tem.
The current status of the front passenger 
airbag, i.e. deactivated or activated, is 
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Controls
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indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front 
passenger airbags in the following.<
Before transporting a child on the front 
passenger seat, read the safety informa-
tion and follow the instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page55.
When teenagers and adults assume certain sit-
ting positions, this can cause the front and side 
airbags to deactivate. The indicator lamp for the 
front passenger airbags lights up when this 
occurs. In these cases, change the sitting posi-
tion so that the front passenger airbags are acti-
vated and the indicator lamp goes out. If the 
desired status cannot be produced by changing 
the sitting position, transport the correspond-
ing person on the rear seat. Do not fit seat cov-
ers, seat cushion padding, ball mats or other 
items onto the front passenger seat unless they 
are specifically recommended by BMW. Do not 
lay objects under the seat which could press 
against the seat from below. Otherwise a cor-
rect evaluation of the occupied seat surface 
cannot be ensured.<
Operating state of front passenger 
airbags
Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the 
arrangement of the switches and indicator 
lamps may differ somewhat.
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags indicates the operating status of the front 
and side airbags on the front passenger side 
depending on the seat occupation. The indica-
tor lamp shows whether the front passenger 
airbags are activated or deactivated.
>The indicator lamp lights up when a child in 
a child restraint device intended for the pur-pose is properly detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags on the front pas-
senger side are not activated.
Most child's seats are detected by the 
system. Especially the child's seats 
required by the NHTSA at the time the vehi-
cle is manufactured. After installing a child's 
seat, make sure that the indicator lamp for 
the front passenger airbags lights up. This 
indicates that the child's seat has been 
detected and the front passenger airbags 
are not activated.<
>The indicator lamp does not light up when, 
for example, a correctly seated person of 
sufficient height is detected on the seat. 
The front and side airbags on the front pas-
senger side are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not light up when 
the seat is empty.
However, the front and side airbags on the 
front passenger side are not activated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
From radio readiness, refer to page59, the 
warning lamp lights up briefly, indicating the 
operational readiness of the entire airbag sys-
tem and the safety belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
>Warning lamp does not light up from radio 
readiness.
>Warning lamp lights up continuously.
Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately in case of a malfunction, otherwise 
there is a danger that the airbag system may not 
respond in the expected manner in an accident 
despite an impact of corresponding intensity.<
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